How to Use an All-Clad Panini Press

Panini are pressed sandwiches.

All-Clad Metalcrafters designs and markets cookware, including a two-piece panini set. The set has a pan and a press of anodized aluminum with riveted steel handles. A panino is a pressed sandwich. Panini can have savory and sweet fillings. The pan and press have durable non-stick coating, allowing you to cook without fat or oils. Even cooking spray isn't necessary. Ridges create an attractive pattern of grill marks on the sandwich. You can use the panini pan and press separately, in addition to using them to create panini.

Things You'll Need

• All-Clad panini pan and press
• Italian bread
• Oil or butter (optional)
• Salami
• Cheese
• Jarred or canned pimentos
• Plastic dish brush

Instructions

1. Heat the pan and press. All-Clad designs the panini press and pan so they distribute heat evenly across their surfaces. Before attempting to cook panini, put the pan on a medium heat and place the press on the pan. As the pan heats up, it warms the press too. Avoid using a cold press on a hot pan, as the surfaces of the panini will not cook evenly. When the panini set is hot, lift off the press. Be sure to place it on a safe surface--for example, a cold burner on a gas cooker. Do not place the press face down on anything which will burn or mark. One way to tell if the pan is hot enough is to flick a few drops of cold water at the pan's surface. If they sizzle on contact, the pan is ready for use.

2. 

   Try making simple salami and cheese panini.

   Assemble a simple Italian panino to cook in the All-Clad set. Use Italian bread, or some other longish, soft sandwich roll. While the panini set is heating, smear a little oil or butter on the outside of the bread. This is optional, but helps to make the panino crisp and golden when you press it. Split the bread and place slices of salami and cheese on the lower half. Don't use much cheese, as it can run into the pan as it melts. Add flavor accents to taste, such as a few strips of sweet pimento from a jar or can. Place the top slice of bread on the panino. Lay your prepared panino in the hot pan and replace the press, using gentle but firm pressure to flatten the panino. When the outside of the panino turns golden and crisp, it is ready.

3. Wait for the All-Clad panini set to cool before cleaning it. Do not place hot cookware in cold water. All-Clad recommends hand washing the pan and press. Despite the non-stick surface, food particles will sometimes cling. If these cannot be removed with a cloth, use a plastic dish brush to avoid scratching the surface. Similarly, when you're turning food in the pan, use plastic rather than metal utensils.

References

• "Panini"; Jennifer Joyce; 2008

Resources

• All-Clad Metalcrafters